Disclaimer: Once Upon a Time does not belong to me! All characters and references to the show belong to ABC and Channel 5.
Once Upon a Time: School's Out! The Third One-Chapter 13
The Booth kid finished screwing in the last screw and stood back from the door to admire his handiwork. It was a basic lock, your regular kind of wooden dead-bolt. But the wood was strong and hard to break.
"There you go!" he said to Regina, his voice smug "No-one will be getting through that in a hurry!"
"Are you certain of that, Booth?" said Regina, looking at the bolt. After the apple incident the Student Body President had come to the conclusion that someone was trying to mess with her. In retaliation she decided that, as she was pretty sick and tired of finding her stuff moved or, the much more recent problem, finding stuff from her, ahem, checkered past that she had never laid eyes on, she was going to take some precautions. After her classes were finished, she went to a nearby hardware store and got a new lock for her locker and then paid the son of the Woodwork teacher, Pinocchio Booth, to come and fix another lock on the outside her door. He'd obliged, for a small payment.
"Are you kidding?" he scoffed now "This thing is solid as a rock! Well...wood" he knocked on his masterpiece. Every carving was, to him, a work of art, the lock built with a certain...middle ages flair, just like his father had taught him.
Regina rolled her eyes, pulling some notes out of her purse. No doubt it was what the idiot was waiting around for. Pinocchio looked at the notes in his hand and then frowned "Hey, I thought we agreed on $50?"
Regina's lips pressed together in an irritated line "Actually I think you'll find I said $40. But I suppose you're entitled to a little idiocy what with all that cinnamon you've been swallowing"
Pinocchio blushed scarlet "Hey! That was one time!"
"Booth, get out of my dorm"
"Yes ma'am" he muttered, begrudgingly moving towards the stairs. After he left Regina walked into her room and tested the lock for herself, sliding the thick bolt into it's holder and pulling on the door. It held fast.
For the first time in weeks, Regina smiled a satisfied smile. No-one would be getting through that. Maybe now, she could finally relax.
OUAT
A few days later, and Snow White found herself suppressing an almost overwhelming urge to run screaming from the room. Her fifth birthing class had just ended, and as she waited outside the...classroom?...for James to finish up in the bathroom she overheard the ill-concealed conversation between two adult mothers from behind the class door:
"So, Iago and I finally found a crib for the little one!" said a high, feminine voice excitedly, and Snow White heard someone coo appreciatively.
"Did you?! Oh that's fantastic, what kind?" she said, her voice slightly deeper, which led the high-voiced woman to start describing, in excruciating detail, some royal-style white crib she had bought while her friend ooed and aahed. Then:
"But it must've been awfully expensive for you, dear!" said the low voice, and Snow White heard the higher scoff.
"Oh, please, buying baby things is hardly a problem! Especially when you've taken the time to plan it all out properly beforehand. I just can't imagine how all those accidental teenage mothers cope, poor things!" she said, in a tone that was anything but sympathetic. Snow White felt something twist in her stomach, feeling Emma give her a kick for good measure.
"Oh, I know!" the deep voice tutted "It's ridiculous how many improper mothers there are just because they were too-" Snow White heard her cough "Social, shall we say?"
What the hell?! Snow White thought vehemently as the higher voice started speaking again:
"Now, now Jadis, that's not fair"
Damn right!
"Not all teenage mothers are...like that. There are plenty of girls out there who are mothers simply because they thought they knew it all. At any rate, they're certainly reaping the consequences now"
Are you freaking kidding me?!
"Oh, you wait, Emilia" said the deep voiced woman "It won't be the mothers reaping the consequences. It'll be those poor little children"
Snow White had heard enough. Fighting back tears of anger she stormed out of the building. When James turned up wondering where she'd gotten to, she poured it all out to him, falling into his arms and letting him rub her back in comforting circles.
"Don't worry, Snow" she said as she wept into his shoulder "It'll be O.k. We'll prove them wrong"
OUAT
When they got back to campus they immediately went to the Knight House. On their way back to the College Snow White had gotten a call from Ruby saying that they needed to get there the second they got back, only telling her that it was urgent. Really urgent.
"Hey, what's going on?" said Snow White as they walked in. Ruby was sat on a sofa in the Knight House lounge with Jiminy Hopper, and both turned to them as they came in. Both looked grave, not saying anything until Snow White and James were sitting down, then Ruby turned to the bespectacled red-head.
"Tell them what you saw" she said simply. Jiminy breathed out heavily, playing with his hands
"I-I'm not really sure what I saw, I-"
"Jim" Ruby's tone was firm "Tell them or I will!"
"Tell us what?" said Snow White, hoping they would soon get to the point, and the two turned to her. Jiminy raised his hand to his face, taking his glasses off in a stressed manner.
"I don't know! It could just be nothing, I mean it was an apple for God sakes!"
"Apple?" James repeated, his voice confused "That's what this is about? An apple?"
"It wasn't just the apple" said Ruby, shaking her head "It was what she said after"
"Who?" said Snow White, starting to feel really confused. Annoyingly, Ruby didn't answer, but prodded Jiminy
"Tell them!"
"Alright!" Jiminy put his glasses back on, looking at Snow White through the lenses as he hesitantly spoke: "Last Monday I...I saw Regina pull a red apple out of her bag, kind of like the one you..." he trailed off, and Snow White's hands tightened on her lap "Well, you know. Anyway, after I saw I asked her what she was doing with it and she...she was all...threateningy"
"She threatened you?!" gasped Snow White, and Jiminy looked uncomfortable.
"N-not exactly. She said something about 'Not pulling that trick twice' but, the way she said it...well, it gave me a bad feeling"
For a moment, the four occupants of the Knight House were silent. Then, Snow White sighed.
"Look, just because she had an apple on her, it doesn't mean she's planning on...hurting anyone again" she said, her gaze falling upon Jiminy "She probably got mad when you saw her with it and thought you were assuming the worst. She was probably just trying to scare you!"
"Maybe" said James, but when Snow White looked up at him he didn't look like he was thinking along the same lines. He looked like he was on guard, and the hand that was draped around her shoulder had tightened.
"I think we should tell Daniel" said Ruby, the same look on her face as James, but Snow White shook her head.
"No! We said we wouldn't say anything unless we had actual proof she was going to hurt someone!"
"Wait. You said?" said James, looking hard at her. Snow White shifted guiltily.
"Um, yeah. A couple of weeks ago Regina came to me and...it looked like she might have been having some problems" she admitted. James pulled his arm away from her, a furious look on his face.
"And you didn't think to tell me this?!"
"Listen!" Snow White snapped back "Ruby and I made a pact not to say anything unless it really looked like she was loosing it!"
James violently turned to the brunette "You knew too?!" he growled.
Defensively, Ruby crossed her arms over her chest "Hey. She made me swear not to tell! But Snow" she turned to Snow White, her tone softer "We also said we wouldn't unless things got bad. This is bad!"
"This is coincidence!" said Snow White desperately "It's not like she can hurt anyone that way, she's not allowed in the Science lab on her own anymore! For all we know, we're just overreacting about some snack Regina forgot about!"
"Exactly!" Jiminy finally spoke up, not faltering even when Ruby and James glared at him "I know Regina's done some bad things-"
"Understatement of the century" Ruby muttered darkly.
"-But she's gotten a lot better since she met that Daniel guy. She doesn't pick on people as much and she...she hasn't gotten anyone expelled or...put in hospital recently! Doesn't she deserve the benefit of the doubt?" at that question, another heavy silence fell between them. Snow White kept her green orbs fixed on James and Ruby, staring them out. Eventually, James sighed:
"O.k. Fine! We don't say or do anything!" he said, and Ruby stared at him in horror:
"James!"
"Unless we find something that actually proves she's going to hurt someone!" he said firmly "Unless that happens we...keep quiet" he said softly, his face twisting as though the statement physically pained him "All agreed?"
"Agreed" said Jiminy immediately.
"Agreed" Snow White nodded.
Ruby didn't say anything, her mouth firmly shut and her arms twisted in front of her chest. She glared her friends, James especially as they waited for her to speak. She groaned:
"Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut!" she submitted, waving her hand in a gesture of surrender. Then she turned to Snow White "But just remember Snow, if your wrong, and Regina comes after you, it won't just be you who could get hurt!" she glanced down at Snow White's stomach "It could be your baby too"
At her words, a shot of fear went through Snow White, and her hands went to her stomach protectively. She was 29 weeks now, just over seven months. If Regina did go after her, her baby could be hurt...
But Snow White was never one to stop believing in people. Even Regina Mills. She looked back up at Ruby, her resolve still standing.
"I know that, Ruby. But if we did tell Daniel his girlfriend was crazy, and it turned out we were wrong? I think we all know" she looked around at the four sat on the lounge's sofa's "That it would be so much worse, for everybody"
Ruby leaned back in her seat, knowing she had no response and that Snow White was right.
They would just have to wait, and hope that they were, indeed, wrong.
OUAT
Later that night Belle French left the Gym late after cheer-leading practice. It had been one of her better days, she'd managed to get that left hand turn right, and no-one had shed any blood because of her. All in all, one good practice.
Except for the part where Aurora, Ruby and Ella had decided to enact her belated "Initiation" and stolen all of her cheerleading clothes out of her locker and hidden them while she was in the shower. Meaning she'd had to spend the last half-hour looking for them until she'd found them in the Gym's vaulting horse!
In such a foul mood was she, that she didn't notice the person standing outside of the Gym doors until she had walked straight past them. She turned, and her bad mood immediately vanished when she saw who was waiting for her.
"Rumple!" she said happily, bounding over to him "Hey!"
"Hey" he responded, catching her hands as she approached "I, ah, thought I'd come and meet you from your cheerleading practice" he was looking her up and down, his brown eyes lingering on her legs. Belle cocked an eyebrow.
"Oh really? Why?" she said teasingly "Was it just so you could see me in a cheerleading outfit again?"
"Possibly"
"Rumple!" Belle laughed, gently hitting his chest. Threading her fingers with his the renewed couple started to walk down the campus, Belle turning her face up to his.
"So, Snow told me that you walked out of Ms Rhuel's class again" she sounded a little admonishing, and Rumplestiltskin laughed.
"Hey, she was the one who told me to leave!" he said in defence.
"Are you sure she wasn't being sarcastic, Rumple?"
He shrugged "I didn't really care"
Belle laughed, and smacked him again lightly on the chest. Then it occurred to her that she and Rumplestiltskin were completely alone at this moment, and that now would be a...well, she didn't want to use the word perfect...time to discuss certain things. She bit her lip, suddenly nervous "Listen, um...I kind of want to talk to you about something"
Rumplestiltskin lifted an eyebrow "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, um..." she started, nerves fluttering in her belly. For someone who spent practically all her time reading books she suddenly found herself unable to string one simple sentence together. God, should she really do this? They had just gotten back together...
"Listen, um" she started again, looking up at him properly "I think there's some...stuff we need to talk about. Like, uh, Milah" guilt flashed across Rumplestiltskin's face and Belle felt her own curl in her stomach. But rather than looking insulted, he nodded as though in understanding:
"Of course" he released her hand and turned her to face him. He put his hands gently on the sides of her shoulders, brown eyes meeting blue as he spoke:
"Look, I know I've already told you this but...Milah Jones was nothing more than a mistake. I regretted it the second it happened, and in all my life I've never wanted to take back anything more than...than what I did" he sounded so guilty and full of remorse as he laid his regret before her, it made Belle want to cry. She cursed Jefferson Hatter's name.
"Rumple..." she said softly, wanting to tell him that it was O.k, she'd already forgiven him for that, it was just her stupid paranoia, but he stopped her.
"No, listen. I know it's going to be difficult for you to trust me again but I swear" slowly, his right hand slid up so that he was cupping her cheek "I will prove to you that you can"
"Oh Rumple..." Belle leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his form to her's in a sweet embrace and burying her face in his chest. With no hesitation, Rumplestiltskin wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him.
"I believe you" she whispered, and they broke apart, a relieved look on Rumplestiltskin's face. They started to walk again, Belle feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. It was done, thank God. Now she could descend into a loving relationship with no-
"Um...as long as we're on the subject of...that" Rumplestiltskin started "Can we talk about Jefferson Hatter?"
Darn it!
"Jefferson?" Belle cocked an eyebrow, looking over at Rumplestiltskin as they approached the dorms "Nothing happened between me and him"
"You went on a date with him"
"Because he held my lap-top hostage!"
"You snogged him!" Rumplestiltskin accused, and Belle gasped, pulling her hand from his and sending him furious sapphire coloured daggers.
"I never snogged him, as you so charmingly put it!" she spat "Who the hell told you that?!"
Briefly, Rumplestiltskin thought back to when the hatted moron had confronted him that very lunchtime in the Darq House. He had just sold a computer virus to Jafar Visor and was watching as the Indian boy practically ran away from him, trying to wipe away tears without anyone noticing (he had tried to haggle. Rumplestiltskin had shown him the error of his ways) and placing a thick clip of money into his pocket when Jefferson had thrown himself onto the couch, a dark glare already fixed on his face. He'd then gone into a long and excruciatingly boring speech about how Rumplestiltskin had stolen his girl (the dealer was pretty sure he'd cracked a rib from trying not to laugh at that) and sooner or later, he was going to slip up, and Belle would come running back to him.
"After all" he'd said, a villainous grin starting to tease his lips "She'll have a hard time forgetting my tongue between her pretty little lips"
The Hatter had gotten a punch across the jaw for his trouble, leaving his words to fester in Rumplestiltskin's mind up until this moment. Belle's jaw dropped, fire flashing behind her eyes.
"That liar!" she snarled viciously, her fists clenching, and for a moment Rumplestiltskin was reminded of the time the previous semester when he'd told Belle that Milah had tried to kiss him. The wanton woman had ended up with bruises all over her body and scratches all over her face.
Belle started to move towards the Darq House building but Rumplestiltskin caught her, his arm locking around her waist and pulling her back towards him "Ah, ah, Belle!" he said, his voice teasing but carrying a hint of warning "Remember what Boss said? If you start anymore fights, you're going to get yourself thrown out!"
"I never kissed him, Rumple!" she swirled around to face him, shaking her head so hard that her ponytail flicked out behind her "I swear I didn't! He tried to kiss me in the library but Krone started screaming at us before he could! I swear!" she paused, panting a little "In fact she actually thinks I'm a harlot, now!"
Rumplestiltskin laughed loudly, releasing his fiery little Belle when he saw that she had calmed down. He kissed her softly "You could never be a harlot, Belle" he said, and she smiled at him gratefully. Until he added "You'renot the one who's nineteen with a little one on the way!"
"Rumplestiltskin!"
So, I finally saw "In the name of thy brother" last Sunday, and I swear to God my heart broke, along with the chipped cup (Why, Belle? WHYYYYYYYYY?!)
Crappy ending here I know, I know, but I wanted to get this updated today because it's nearly the weekend and I haven't updated in a week. Please tell me what you thought of this!